Industry News

Avionics

Brazilian combat jet upgrade leverages Ada technology from AdaCore - News

March 27, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems AdaCore

SAN JOSE, Calif. Embraer Defense and Security officials selected Ada software from AdaCore for an avionics upgrade. The GNAT Pro Ada development environment will be a primary tool set to help produce the Operation Flight Program for the Embraer AMX Jet Modernization program. Adacore made the announcement at the DesignWest show in San Jose, Calif., this week.

Radar/EW

Army sense and warn radar from Raytheon cuts down on cots and false alarms - News

March 23, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Raytheon Company

MCKINNEY. U.S. Army officials have tasked Raytheon engineers to create a prototype design of the Ku Band Multi-Function RF System (MFRFS) Sense and Warn (S&W) radar.

Unmanned

Navy weaponizing Fire Scout unmanned helicopter - News

March 22, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) engineers are weaponizing the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter for an urgent request from the U.S. This is the first time the Navy has armed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Weapons planned for the Fire Scout include a laser-guided rocket, the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS).

Avionics

Laser-guided 2.75-inch rocket completes live fire testing by Marine helicopter aviators - News

March 21, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems BAE Systems

NASHUA, N.H. U.S. Marine Corps pilots fired rounds against stationary and moving targets as part of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) program?s Initial Operational Test and Evaluation phase. APKWS, developed by BAE Systems, uses a semi-active laser-guided 2.75-inch rocket.

Radar/EW

First EA-18G Growler electronic attack fighter delivered to Navy under multi-year contract - News

March 20, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Boeing

ST. LOUIS. Boeing officials delivered the first EA-18G Growler to the U.S. Navy as part of the company?s multi-year contract to produce F/A-18E/Fs and EA-18Gs. The first airborne electronic attack aircraft ? dubbed Aircraft G-57 ? will be based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

Radar/EW

Navy funds two more Littoral Combat Ships to be built by Lockheed Martin - News

March 19, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Lockheed Martin

WASHINGTON. U.S. Navy officials are adding funding for two Littoral Combat Ships (LCSs) to be produced a Lockheed Martin-led industry team under a $715 million modification to an existing contract. The two ships will be the third and fourth vessels in a 10-ship contract awarded back in late 2010.

Avionics

Army mobile ATC tower systems to be provided by Sierra Nevada - News

March 16, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Sierra Nevada Corporation

SPARKS, Nev. U.S. Army officials tasked engineers at Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) to produce ten Mobile Tower Systems (MOTS), and engineering and logistics services under a $56 million contract. AN/MSQ-135 MOTS is slated to replace the Army AN/TSW-7A Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower.

Comms

Cloud computing solution from Lockheed Martin UK being adopted by UK Cabinet office to create Cloudstore - News

March 16, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Lockheed Martin

BETHESDA, Md. Officials at the United Kingdom Cabinet Office chose G-Cloud computing services from Lockheed Martin UK across its government organizations and departments. The agreement will be dubbed CloudStore and will run for about six to nine months, with a potential for rolling contract extensions.

Cyber

Northrop Grumman to boost DoD cybersecurity - News

March 15, 2012

Alice Moss Northrop Grumman

Comms

Marines order Falcon III manpack radios from Harris - News

March 15, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Harris Corporation

ROCHESTER, N.Y. U.S. Marine Corps officials needing voice and mobile data network technology for their expeditionary operations placed a $64 million order with Harris for the company?s Falcon III AN/PRC-117G multiband manpack radios, antennas, vehicular amplifier adapters, and field support.

Unmanned

Hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye UAV makes its first medium speed taxi test - News

March 14, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Boeing

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. The Phantom Eye High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) completed its first medium-speed taxi test. The test took place at Edwards Air Force Base in cooperation with officials at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. Phantom Eye reached speeds of as fast as 30 knots while ground personnel relayed directions and data using Boeing?s Common Open-mission Management Command and Control (COMC2) system.

Avionics

New avionics-focused business unit formed by Curtiss-Wright Controls - News

March 13, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Curtiss-Wright

CHARLOTTE, N.C. Officials at Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc. in Charlotte, N.C., have restructured their Integrated Sensing business to focus more on avionics and global aerospace applications. The group is now called the Avionics & Electronics (CWC-AE) division, which will be based in Christchurch, United Kingdom.

Radar/EW

Tomahawk missile's weapons system gets hardware and software upgrade - News

March 12, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Lockheed Martin

PHILADELPHIA. Engineers at Lockheed Martin are upgrading the Tomahawk Land Attack missile?s weapon-control system software and hardware. The Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control System, or TTWCS), TTWCS gives firing units the ability to control, prepare, and launch Tomahawk missiles and is one of the three main components that make up the Tomahawk Weapons System.

Comms

U.S. Special Forces to use small, lightweight night vision goggles from L-3 - News

March 09, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems

NEW YORK CITY. U.S. Navy officials are ordering Binocular Night Vision Devices (BNVD) from the L-3 Communications Warrior Systems ? Insight Technology business unit for operators in the U.S. Special Operations Command. The BNVD is smaller and more lightweight than typical night vision goggles.

Radar/EW

Space Fence radar already tracking objects in Earth orbit - News

March 08, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Lockheed Martin

MOORESTOWN, N.J. A Space Fence radar prototype ? designed by Lockheed Martin engineers ? is in the process of tracking orbiting space objects. The radar system development, which is an Air Force program, will improve space situational awareness for the U.S.